Warning: contains spoilers for JSA #3!

DC just flipped the script on the legendary relationship between The saga of Hawkman and Hawkgirl has been playing out across the DC Universe for countless millennia. Throughout their various incarnations, Hawkman and Hawkgirl have traditionally been lovers, but in light of recent developments in Carter Hall’s life, a new dynamic is forming between the two heroes, as seen in JSA #3.

JSA #3 was written by Jeff Lemire and drawn by Diego Olortegui. The JSA are helping Hawkman in his battle against the Demons Three. Hawkgirl, sad that she could not have done more to help Hawkman, reveals to Green Lantern Alan Scott that she and Carter “don’t have the same relationship as past Hawkmen and Hawkwomen have had.”

Traditionally, they are lovers, but since Carter found Shayera, their cycle of rebirth has been broken, and they can live normally.

Finding Shayera has changed the dynamic between Kendra and Carter: she now views Hawkman as a big brother.

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This new take on the relationship between Hawkman and Hawkgirl (or Hawkwoman) upends nearly 80 years of tradition.

This new take on the relationship between Hawkman and Hawkgirl (or Hawkwoman) upends nearly 80 years of tradition. There have been several different Hawkgirls in DC history, stretching back to 1940’s Flash Comics #1, where Hawkman made his debut as well. Thanks to poor editorial control, Hawkman and Hawkgirl’s backstories have become incredibly complicated, leading to numerous retcons and wildly differing origin stories for the two, but in every version up until now, they have been lovers. The specifics of how they meet change with each version, but recently, both Carter and Shayera broke free of the reincarnation cycle.

Hawkgirl Kendra Saunders was created by writers James Robinson and David Goyer and artist Scott Benefiel.

In addition to Shayera, Kendra Saunders has held the mantle of Hawkgirl. Introduced in 1999’s JSA: Secret Files #1, Kendra’s backstory is convoluted. Possessed by the spirit of Shiera Hall (the Golden Age Hawkgirl), to whom Kendra was distantly related, she would go on to be a member of both the Society and the Justice League. While Shayera may be the best-known Hawkgirl, thanks in part to her roles in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, Kendra has proven herself worthy of the name as well.

As mentioned earlier, Hawkman and Hawkgirl’s backstories are nearly impossible to make sense of, but essentially Kendra is another incarnation of Shayera, and this would seem to indicate they would be lovers as well. Yet Kendra mentioned Carter had found Shayera in his current life, which raises questions about his relationship with Kendra. Carter is devoted to Shayera, not Kendra. The events of JSA #3 confirm that Carter and Shayera are still together. With Hawkman reunited with his beloved, Kendra is now free to carve out her own destiny.

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With Hawkgirl’s new path comes a new dynamic with Hawkman too–right on the eve of the character’s leap into the mainstream in James Gunn’s Superman. While their new relationship still leaves room in her life for Carter, Kendra is no longer tethered to him. Yet, Carter is still very important to Kendra, but now what existed between them has taken on new dimensions. Kendra now looks at Carter like a big brother: someone who knows the ropes and is willing to teach them. Hawkgirl still very much cares for him though, and that is likely to never change.

JSA #3 is on sale now from DC Comics!